Miller Theater on the Columbia University Campus

Check out videos from Columbia University’s Fifth-Annual StartupColumbia Festival, a two-day celebration of Columbia’s culture of Entrepreneurship and Innovation! Day one was the culmination of the Columbia Venture Competition, where more than 200 Columbia startups competed for $200,000 in cash awards. We announced winners on daytwo - meet them here! - atthe StartupColumbia Conference. The day was filled with provocative discussions on Blockchain, the NewSpace Startups, Data Ethics, Women Inventors, and a fireside chat with unicorn founder Marco Zappacosta '07CC.

2018 Festival Highlights

Panels, Keynotes, and Fireside Chats

Jeannette Wing is the Avanessians Director of the Data Science Institute at Columbia. Dramatic advancements in data science have fueled explosions in the methods and amounts of data we collect. Jeannette comes to Columbia from Microsoft, where for the past four years she has been Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Research, overseeing a global network of research labs. She is widely recognized for her intellectual leadership in computer science, and is now helping to define the new, emerging field of data science.

Technologies like Artificial Intelligence are promising great advancements for our society. However, the speed of progress in Data Science is setting off some alarms. The possibilities could inspire impassioned data scientists, but advancement without caution and consideration for consequence could lead to great harm. By engaging with world-class philosophers, economists, practitioners, and more, we hope to understand the implications of AI better. Join Jeannette Wing, Avanessians Director of the Data Science Institute at Columbia for a frank and provocative discussion about how Data Science is changing our world. READ MORE >>

In 2008 a pseudonymous figure named Satoshi Nakamoto released a PDF entitled “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System.” Within a year a small cadre of libertarian cypherpunks began evangelizing a technological breakthrough. In 2018, after untold amounts of digital wealth have made speculators rich, we are witnessing a Cambrian explosion of technology based on Nakamoto’s core innovation: the Blockchain. Join our panel of investors, academics, and yes one or two cypherpunks for a conversation about how this technology that began as a tool to liberate netizens from the tyranny will be the "Next Big Thing"? READ MORE >>

George D. Yancopoulos '80CC, '85GF, '87PS, MD, Ph.D., is Regeneron’s President and Chief Scientific Officer. He has led Regeneron alongside Len Schleifer, MD, Ph.D., since 1989. George has been driven by science his entire life. He began his education at the Bronx High School of Science, received his MD and Ph.D. from Columbia University and went on to become the 11th most highly cited scientist in the world in the 1990s. In 2004, he was elected to be a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Yancopoulos, together with key members of his team, is a principal inventor and developer of Regeneron's six FDA-approved drugs, as well as its foundational technologies, including the Trap technology, VelociGene® and VelocImmune®. READ MORE >>

Sponsored by Columbia's Women Inventors Network and by Women in Science @ Columbia this discussion takes a deep dive into the tale of three scientists' journey from innovation to spinout and what life is like at the intersection of university research and the commercial sector. Most importantly, this panel shares lessons learned from this experience with the younger generation of women inventors. READ MORE >>

In Dream Teams, award-winning journalist Shane Snow takes us on an adventure through psychology, neuroscience, business and more, revealing what separates groups that simply get by together from teams that get better together. You'll meet rap groups, pirate gangs, buddy cops, pioneering women in journalism and the FBI, soviet hockey teams, outrageous artists and city planners, and the people behind social movements that changed the world. READ MORE >>

Sputnik, meet Falcon Heavy. “Old space” was a race between the US and the Soviet Union, an extension of the Cold War fueled by fear. Since then, the power centers of innovation have shifted. NewSpace is entrepreneurial and aspirational. It may seem like reaching for the stars, but the revolution is here. The movement has already produced a highly visible, globally emerging, private space innovation industry. Elon Musk of SpaceX, Jeff Bezos of Blue Origin, and Richard Branson of Virgin Galactic are in the headlines. Join Singularity University fellow Sidney Nakahodo, former NASA astronauts, NewSpace founders, and technologists for a conversation about how a distinctly commercially-minded, aerospace startups are working independently to develop faster, better, and cheaper technologies that will democratize space and the usher in a proliferation of space technologies. READ MORE >>

The Imperative for a New Societal Framework for Our Everyone A Changemaker™ World

We are at a historic moment. Over the past decades, technological advancement and dynamic social networks have precipitated a societal paradigm shift leading to a global systemic equilibrium imbalance. Developments in the exchange of information and ideas have radically increased the individual’s capacity to innovate. A world once characterized by repetition and concentrated authority is now characterized by collaborative leadership and omnidirectional change. READ MORE >>

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Columbia Food Founders' Fare

Join us for lunch the Columbia Food Founders' Fare, a great place to eat and network during the conference. Columbia-founded food startups will cater the conference and hold an innovative pop-up bazaar. Bring your appetites.

Click on the logos below to learn more about the teams who'll be serving lunch.

Sponsors & Logos

Your Chance to Win a Piece of $200,000

The Columbia Venture Competition (CVC) has four challenges, made possible by Columbia College, Columbia Engineering, Columbia Entrepreneurship, and the School of International and Public Affairs. Each challenge will split $50,000 among the top three winners. CVC judges come from Columbia’s worldwide alumni community from Beijing to Brooklyn and represent diverse backgrounds and a wide-ranging set of expertise. The descriptions, rules, and eligibility guidelines - as well as the most recent winners! - are listed below.

Columbia Venture Competition

Congratulations to the 2018 Finalists and Winners! Find out who took home the big prizes here.

#StartupColumbia Challenge

This challenge is all about customer development and demonstrating product-market fit. Cash grants will be awarded to those teams that best prepare and present compelling and empirical evidence of market acceptance for their value propositions. If you don’t have empirical evidence, this is not the Challenge for you. For second-round submissions and final presentations, documented proof of business model viability must be provided. This proof may come in the form of qualitative and quantitative market surveys, customer development interview summaries, or current customer, revenue, or unit shipment counts.

Congrats to fellow finalists of the #StartupColumbia Challenge:

ReDO Terminal

Technology Challenge, Sponsored by Columbia Engineering

Entries must include business models based on a solid foundation of applied, solution-focused, technology innovation. Submissions must focus on product development, innovative design, and “builder” technologies including data analytics, biomedical solutions, software, or hardware. Cross-disciplinary teams are strongly encouraged.

MentorPro

Insta Power

Advance H2O

SIPA Dean's Public Policy Challenge Grant

THE ENTRY DEADLINE FOR THE SIPA DEAN'S CHALLENGE HAS PASSED.

The Public Policy Grant Program of Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) invites students to form teams to propose student-designed projects and prototypes that use ICTs and/or data analytics to solve urban problems around the world. Solutions may be market-based, public/philanthropic supported, or a mix. The Program encourages the formation of teams that integrate students of public policy, computer science, engineering and other fields across Columbia University. All teams must include at least one SIPA student in a substantive role.

Audrey Misquith ’18 SIPA

Honorable Mentiones | $5,000 Each

Sarah Lux-Lee ʼ16 SIPA, Rebecca Abramson ʼ19SIPA

Noopur Desai ʼ18SIPA, Yuko Terama, ʼ18SIPA, Hisato Tamiya ʼ18SIPA

Columbia Undergraduate Challenge, Sponsored by Columbia College

Prize grants will be awarded to the top teams with the most innovative and viable business model. Winning entries must document the incorporation of customer or user feedback into the design of their business model.

Columbia Venture Competition Rules and Regulations

Updated January, 2018

CVC is intended for new, independent ventures in the seed or early start-up stages.

Businesses built using technologies or IP licensed from Columbia University will be accepted but ownership of the IP must be clearly stated and documented. Ownership of intellectual property and equity shares in the business must not be in dispute.

Status of incorporation and any funding received must be clearly stated. Cash grants will only be awarded to teams that have established, legally-formed business registration.

Teams do not have to be formally incorporated to enter – or win – the any track in the CVC. However, winning teams must be legally-formed business entities to receive the grant. If a winning team is not yet an incorporated entity, Columbia Entrepreneurship administrators can assist with that process.

Teams must not have raised more than $150,000 prior to March 1st, 2018.

The Columbia Venture Competition is intended for ventures founded, managed, and owned by eligible founders (students or recent alumni within 5 years of degree). Winning teams with non-Columbia-affiliated founders must document the role all founders have had in the conception and development of the venture. At least one founder must be a Columbia student or recent alumnus (recent alumni within 5 years of degree).

All team members are asked to state their university and school affiliation with degree year. CVC administrators may also require proof of the length of time each of founder has been engaged in their venture.

Certain Challenges further restrict the eligibility requirements for teams. It is up to the team to fully review all eligibility requirements before entering a Challenge. Teams that enter a Challenge for which they are not eligible may be disqualified.

Teams who have won a CVC Challenge in prior years may not enter the same challenge again but can enter another challenge. For example, the 2017 Undergraduate Challenge winner may enter the #StartupColumbia Challenge in 2018.

Teams may only enter one Challenge per year.

CVC finalists must present live or via teleconference on Thursday April 5th, 2018.

The winners will be announced on Friday, April 6th at the #Startup Columbia Festival. Winners must agree to release rights to use their images and brief descriptions of their business models to help promote Columbia University programs. Winners will be given rights to use their images, photos and videos for their own promotional purposes.

It may take Columbia up to three months after the final winners are determined to award the grants.

Eligibility is contingent on compliance with the rules listed above. Teams can be disqualified at any point, during the competition and prior to receiving funds at the administrators’ discretion. Disqualification is final and cannot be appealed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Blended Teams With Members From Other Universities

Generally speaking, entries from current Columbia students (and Barnard students for the Undergraduate Challenge) and alumni within five years of their degree will be accepted. Entries from blended teams that include non-Columbia-affiliated members will also be considered. CVC administrators reserve the right to determine if the Columbia members of a blended have played a significant role in founding and running the company and are currently engaged with the team. CVC may disqualify a blended team if they do not meet this criteria. If a blended team wins, award funds will only be granted if the Columbia-affiliated founder remains on the team at the time the funds are ready to be awarded.

Non-Disclosure Agreements

There is no formal non-disclosure agreement in place for the Columbia Venture Competition. Participants’ executive summaries and pitch decks will only be seen by the Venture Competition administrators and the judging panel. Neither of those documents will be distributed more broadly unless explicit permission is received from the team. Teams should be aware that CVC administrators will not require judges to sign non-disclosure agreements. Confidentiality has never presented a problem but we do advise that teams provide as much detail as possible without disclosing proprietary information or unprotected IP.